Molding apparatus for concrete fence-posts.



PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904.

G'. M. GRAHAM. MOLDING APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FENCE POSTS.

Patented May 24, 1904.

'UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. GRAHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INLAND STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MOLDING APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FENCE-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,445, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed September 11, 1903. Serial No. 172,721. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding Apparatus for Concrete Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a molding apparatus for the manufacture of that class of composite fence-posts in which the base of the post is formed by a mass of concrete in which in turn a central structural-iron core or bar is embedded and projects from the mass of concrete to constitute the main and upper portion of such composite fence-post; and the present improvement has for its object to provide a simple and efficient construction of the mold-pallet and pallet-carrier by means of which the structural-iron core of a composite fence-post is supported and maintained in proper central position within the mold-cavity to insure a central location of such core in the concrete base, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the present invention, Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the parts comprising the moldcavity of a concrete-press to which the present improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section of the same at line a m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section of the same at line a a2, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one end portion of the mold-pallet. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the companion end of the mold-pallet carrier.

Similar numerals of'reference indicatelike parts in the several views.

As represented in the drawings, the general structural arrangement of the concrete-press parts are preferably the same as in my companion application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 172,722, and comprises a construction as follows:

1 represents the stationary mold-bottom frame, upon the respective side portions of which the pair of counterpartpress-plungers hereinafter described have sliding movement to and from each other in the operation of the press. 2 is a central cavity or recess extending the length of the said bottom frame for receiving the mold-pallet and the pallet-carrier of the present construction. 3 is a stationary upright extension at one end of said bottom frame, forming one of the end heads or walls of the mold-cavity aforesaid.

45 represents the pair of opposed counterpart press-plungers, to which rectilinear reciprocating movements are imparted in any usual and suitable manner, andpreferably by the mechanism set forth in my aforesaid companion application for Letters Patent. Arranged as described the opposed faces of such plungers constitute the respective vertical side walls of the mold-cavity of the press.

5 is an upper platen arranged centrally above the pair of press-plungers 4 to form a top closure for the mold-cavity, as in my aforesaid companion application, and will have movements in the manner therein described in a practical operation of the press mechanism.

6 is the mold-pallet or bottom plate, fitting the central cavity 2 of the bottom frame 1, with the top surfaces of both parts on a level, as shown. Such pallet forms the actual moldbottom and constitutes asupport for the concrete material during the pressing operation, as well as a support for the finished article in the handling of the same subsequent to such pressing or molding operation.

7 is the mold-pallet carrier, also fitting the aforesaid cavity 2 of the mold-bottom frame 1 and adapted to slide in an endwise manner into place therein and to be removed therefrom in a similar manner and in either case to carry the mold-pallet 6 and the concrete fence-post when the same is superimposed upon'said pallet.

. 8 is an upright extension at the end of the pallet-carrier 7 and adapted to constitute the other end head or wall ofthe mold-cavity opposite to the other upright extension 3 aforesaid of the mold-bottom frame.

In actual use a series of mold-pallets will be used to a single press, so as not to delay the output of the same and so that the same pallet may be used with a post during the subsequent hardening of the same after it has beenformed in the press.

A material part of the present invention involves a particular construction of the moldpallet and pallet-carrier, so as to adapt the described press mechanism to the efficient and certain molding of composite fence-posts in which the base of the post is formed by a molded mass of concrete and the shaft of the post by a structural-iron bar embedded in such concrete mass. Such construction will accordingly comprise a structural arrangement of the mold-pallet carrier as follows: 9 isa shelf or support forming a permanent fixture on the mold-pallet 6 and offset therefrom into a plane above the top surface of such pallet, so

tion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure that it will support the structural-iron core or bar 10 of afence-post in a central position within the mold-cavity and so that the horizontal alinement of said bar within such mold-cavity Will be maintained in a very effective manner and any liability to displacement of the same avoided. In my preferred construction, as shown, the shelf or support 9 will be of substantially the same width as the post-bar 10.

The upright end head or wall 8 of the pallet-carrier 7 is formed with a vertical slot 11 for the reception of the shelf or, support 9'and at the bottom of such slot with a pocket 12 to receive the lower portion of the vertical connecting member 13, which unites the said shelf with the end of the mold-pallet, the said construction being adapted to maintain the parts in proper relative position against accidental displacement.

. Another part of the present invention consists informing the end head or wall 8 of the pallet-carrier with a concavity 14: in its inner face and formed by beveling the inner faces of the said head or wall adjacent to the aforesaid vertical slot 11. Such construction is adapted in the molding operation to impart a convex formto the upper end of the concrete base portion of the fence-post.

Having thus fully described my said invenby Letters Patent, is

l. A mold-pallet for concrete-post presses of the type herein described, the same comprising a main body portion adapted as a moldbottom, and a shelf or extension at one end of the said body portion and having asupporting-surface arranged in a plane above the surface of said body portion, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a mold-pallet having a main body portion adapted as a mold-bottom, and a shelf extension at one end thereof and having a less width than the body portion, with the supporting-surface of said shelf arranged in a plane above the surface ofsaid main portion, and a pallet-carrier having an upright end Wall formed with a vertical slot to receive said shelf, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a mold-pallet having a main body portion adapted as a mold-bottom, and a shelf extension at one end thereof and having a less width than the body portion, with the supporting-surface of said shelf arranged in a plane above the surface of said main portion, and a pallet-carrier having an upright end Wall formed with a vertical slot and a pocket beneath said slot for the reception of said .shelf and the end of the main portion to which said shelf is connected, substantially as set forth.

Y 5. In a concrete-post-molding press of the character herein described, the combination of a stationary mold bottom frame provided with a vertical end extension to form an end wall for the mold-cavity, a pair of opposed plungers having movement to and from each other on the upper surface of such bottom frame, a removable platen spanning said plungers to form a top closure for the moldc avit y, a .mold pallet, and a pallet-carrier adapted for endwise insertion in the bottom frame aforesaid and provided with a vertical end extension having a concaved inner face and adapted to constitute an end wall of the mold-cavity, substantially as set forth.

6. In a concrete-post-molding press of the character herein described, the combination of a stationary mold-bottom frame provided with a vertical end extension to form an end wall for the mold-cavity, a pair of opposed plungers having movement to and from each other on the upper surface of such bottom frame, a removable platen spanning said plungers to form a top closure for the moldcavity, a mold-pallet having a shelf extension at one end the supporting-surface of which is in a plane above the top surface of such pallet, and a pallet-carrier adapted for endwise insertion in the bottom frame aforesaid and provided with a vertical end extension having a vertical slot for the reception of the shelf fextension aforesaid and adapted to constitute an end wall of the mold-cavity, substantially as set forth.

7 In a concrete-post-molding press of the character herein described, the combination of a stationary mold bottom frame provided with a vertical end extension to form an end wall for the mold-cavity, a pair of opposed plungers having movement to and from each other on the upper surface of such bottom frame, a removable platen spanning said plungers to form a top closure for the moldcavity, a mold-pallet having a shelf extension at one end the supporting-surface of which is in a plane above the top surface of such pallet, and a pallet-carrier adapted for endwise insertion in the bottom frame aforesaid, and provided with a vertical end extension formed with a vertical slot and a pocket beneath said slot for the reception of the shelf extension aforesaid and the end of the pallet to which said shelf extension is connected, substantially as set forth.

8. In a conorete-post-molding press of the character herein described, the combination of a stationary mold bottom frame provided with a vertical end extension to form an end wall for the mold-cavity, a pair of opposed plungers having movement to and from each other on the upper surface of such bottom frame, a removable platen spanning said plungers to form a top closure for the moldcavity, a mold-pallet having ashelf extension at one end the supporting-surface of which is in plane above the top surface of such pallet, and a pallet-carrier adapted for endwise insertion in the bottom frame aforesaid and provided with a vertical end extension having a vertical slot for the shelf extension aforesaid and a coneaved inner face, adapted to constitute an end wall of the mold-cavity, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of September, 1903.

GEORGE M. GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, M. H. HoLMEs. 

